2023-08-20 19:37:51
Spain is world champion and the queen of world women’s football. The masterpiece was delayed half a century, a period of time in which it went from clandestinity and the macho rejection of the seventies to professionalization and current recognition until it touched the sky. Spain can now embroider the first star on her shield, an epic that Spanish sport was missing, and thus put the icing on the cake of an unprecedented feat in women’s football in our country. She did it against the powerful England, current European champion and executioner of Jorge Vilda’s in the last European event, played on British soil in July of last year.
In front of the pupils of Sarina Wiegman, architect of the ‘pross’, the circle that began with a defeat that marked the beginning of the well-known 15 o’clock rebellion against the Madrid coach was closed. The English did not lose in a great tournament since third and fourth place in the 2019 World Cup in France until they met with La Roja, a team with soul and a multitude of resources that, after breaking the psychological barrier that had suffered until now with the curse of the crosses already knows that he is capable of anything. Knowing how to recover after the blows received has been key on the triumphant path towards eternity for a generation of players as extraordinary for their technical qualifications as for their desire to compete.
The duel began with tremendous respect and in the early stages none of the contestants managed to impose the style of both coaches. Those of Sarina Wiegman, three times named the best coach in the world, pressed from the beginning to avoid the recognized game of touch and possession of the group led by Jorge Vilda. The British arrived at the box driven by Laura Hemp, who was prevented from opening the scoring by the crossbar at the beginning, and the two wingers Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly, who stand out for their physical capacity and offensive projection.
Spain had to apply themselves well from the start in defensive tasks against an opponent who wanted to prevail in times of possession. Fortunately, La Roja has learned in this tournament to grow in the face of any adversity and to have patience as one of its virtues. “What we have now and not before is the winning mentality, of believing, of not giving up anything, of not giving up and, above all, of knowing how to suffer,” acknowledged Aitana Bonmatí days ago, a superlative player who after being a one of the ringleaders of the famous revolt against his coach, he returned to the team to elevate it into perpetuity.
Pawn by pawn, avoiding the offensive progression of the adversary, Spain positioned itself to dominate possession while those in sky blue chose to take advantage of the verticality of Alessia Russo from the right in a duel that was played without midfield and the ball moved from the sides. If some did it from the right, the others from the left, from where the effective Olga Carmona appeared, as she did against Sweden in the semifinals, to put Spain ahead on the scoreboard.
The Andalusian captain demonstrated her ability to set up the shot from positions close to the area and sent a low ball to the corner of the long post where the English goalkeeper could do nothing. The goal was sung throughout the country. Several Spanish towns and cities installed giant screens to follow this feat, which is a revulsion for the explosion of this sport.
spain
Tasting Coll; Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Laia Codina (Ivana Andrés, min 73), Olga; Aitana, Teresa Abelleira, Jenni Hermoso: Alba Redondo (Oihane, min. 60), Mariona (Putellas, min 90) and Salma
1
–
0
England
Mery Earps, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Alex Greeenwood, Millie Bright, Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly (Kelly, min. 46), Ella Toone (England, min. 87), Lauren Hemp, Jess Carter, Alessia Russo (James, min. 46)
Goal 1-0 Olga Carmona (Min.29)
Referee Tori Penso (USA). She admonished Lauren Hemp and Salma Paralluelo
Incidents Final of the Women’s World Cup played at the Australia Stadium in Sydney
A new dimension that makes women’s football rise to further promote its professionalization, increase its visibility in the media, the training of coaches, licences, facilities or the work that is done from the quarry. “That we can be a benchmark is also making history,” reflected Irene Paredes, captain without an armband of a team that broke its glass ceiling against Switzerland to cross the forbidden border of the round of 16, which defeated the world runner-up in the quarterfinals, Netherlands, and who did not stop trusting when Sweden tied a duel in minute 88 to finish them off moments later.
Spain once again had plenty of possession and that’s how they feel comfortable. Aitana Bonmatí appeared judiciously, leaving flashes of her as a compass until she reached Mariona Caldentey or Alba Redondo at the ends. The sign of the duel was undoubtedly in balance, from possession and tactics from which the approaches of Vilda and Wiegman were imposed, which represent the evolution that the game has had in recent years. Spain was smart before going to the locker room and squeezed an England that did not expect this scenario. The post denied the second to Salma Paralluelo, a player who, while struggling between the ball and athletics, won the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, and who is a true reflection of the generational change that Spanish football is experiencing.
At the restart, the Dutchman who leads the Three Lionesses included the talented Lauren James and modified the tactical drawing to take a step forward and prevent Spain from sewing their first star on their chest. However, Vilda’s came out plugged in and a connection between Jennifer Hermoso and Mariona Caldentey forced Earps to stretch a lot to deny the goal of the Barça attacker, who was about to put land in the way, as Bonmatí tried shortly after shot from the front.
Spain went on the attack and once again had a golden opportunity in the penalty after a handball from Keira Walsh warned first from the VAR, which alerted the judge to see the play on the monitor and rectify her decision on the field. Jennifer Hermoso shot but Earps guessed her shot and the Manchester City goalkeeper, named goalkeeper of the year, saved easily.
It was time to suffer until the end and the bad luck of the Pachuca attacker, the all-time top scorer with Spain, was added to the injury of Laia Codina, a mainstay in Vilda’s defense, who had to give way to Ivana Andrés, who has already formed duo with Irene Paredes in the first two matches of this World Cup. England tried with a good shot from James that was saved with reflexes by Cata Coll, another of the players who has won everything with the lower categories.
Vilda studied with her team how to change the dynamics of the game in the final moments, where Spain was clumsy in the connections and tried to counter due to the high pressure of the English. Caldentey came out and left his post for Alexia Putellas to enter. The double Ballon d’Or player has assumed a secondary role in her third World Cup, respecting at all times the hierarchies established in the national team during her nine-month absence after tearing her cruciate ligament. The forward, 11 from Spain, is together with Jennifer Hermoso and Irene Paredes, survivors of that Spain that reached Euro 2013 as Cinderella and has lived through all the phases of football until becoming immortal in Sydney.
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